by K. M. Liss
She gasped in surprise and shivered with delight, her mouth opened a touch and her head tipped back with the strength of her feelings. Her eyes caught his and locked in a brilliant yellow stare.
He gazed at her in surprise for a moment, and then, as if something clicked in his mind, he presented her with a wicked grin. Kneeling in front of her, he kissed her fingers one by one, licking each one subtly in the process. She started to feel faint.
Not my fingers, oh no,no,no...
She tried to draw her hand away from his, but her hand wasn't cooperating. Her breath was coming hard and fast and their eyes were blazing with heat.
He slipped the tip of her smallest finger into his mouth and she wrapped her legs around him as a rush of blood left her upper half and migrated to her lower regions.
“Oh God, more, please, please...” she begged, her brain swamped in a fog of desire and her tongue running loose.
“Well I never,” he rasped sexily, sucking her fingers slowly and erotically, and looking at her from beneath his lush lashes. “Shopping for clothes has never been more enjoyable. Let me know if you feel the need to spend any more loose change, won't you. I shall be the first in the queue.”
“Shut up and suck,” she commanded with a growl at him.
She felt herself coming and she saw the bright red light. Her head spun wildly with such pleasure and she began to feel dizzy, very dizzy...
“Oh Miche... darling!” She gasped collapsing on the chair in a dead faint.
Saba looked up as the two of them burst through the door, with the porter laden down with too many bags to count, bringing up the rear. He simmered with annoyance and jealousy.
The man was so fucking built. And what a face. Even he was envious of it.
“Fuck Sevi! Is there any money left in the bank?” He snapped.
“Oh Saba! Don't whine so. We had such a wonderful time, didn't we Miche my love?” She smiled up at him in a way Saba really didn't like.
“We certainly did that.” Michello smiled back at her conspiratorially.
“What the hell does he need all that gear for?”
“He had nothing to wear, he needed everything.”
“Sevi he's gonna be living in the Refugio, for crissakes!”
“He is not! He's spent a lifetime in there. He's coming with us. Rocco has taken over full time, as from now.”
Saba seethed and couldn't control his angry heavy breathing and the hateful looks he was throwing in Michello's direction.
“Look, I don't want to cause an argument between you. I'm grateful for the offer and all you've done Sevi, but I can find my own place to live. You don't need me around,” Michello said in a conciliatory tone.
“But I want to make sure you settle well, in your new life, and your initial blood frenzy is over. After our trip, I'm sure we could get you a modelling contract of some kind. Couldn't we Saba?”
“We'll discuss that later,” Saba said testily. “Now listen, while you've been out buying up all the designer men's clothing in Rome, we've had some news.”
“Really, and what's that?” she asked, suddenly interested in him, and not the new male Adonis closely attached to her side.
“The Giannis. We think we know where they are. Fro took a taxicab to the Refugio and returned a short while ago. Oh, by the way, Rocco is doing very well and was so relieved to hear his Pop wasn't in fact dead, I'm sure you both will be pleased about that. Anyway... Fro's contact there knows someone of our kind in high office in the Italian government. This minister heard of a wealthy family who sold a house to them earlier this year, it seems they live near Tivoli.”
“You're sure?” She looked at Fro for confirmation.
He nodded. “Think so, sweet pants.”
“You've actually got their address?”
“I actually do.” He grinned at her broadly.
“Oh Fro, this is such wonderful news. What a perfect day I am having.” She sighed and glanced up at Michello, a secret lustful look passing between the two of them.
Saba's blood boiled to molten lava in a second. They had been intimate together. He knew that look.
How could she? How dare he? FUCK HER!
His perfect world collapsed in that one moment and he got up and left the suite without a word.
As he strode off and entered the stairwell, he heard her calling after him.
“Saba, please... Wait!”
He stood at the top of the stairs with his arms crossed. She pushed the door open and entered the stairwell and he turned to face her with pain and anger clearly showing on his face.
“What?” he snarled nastily.
“Where are you going, my love?”
“To find my sanity.”
“Don't take on so. Miche is just a mild flirtation.”
“A mild flirtation? How far did you get with your mild flirting exactly?”
“He kissed my fingers Saba. I lost control for a moment.”
“He kissed your fucking fingers? Don't tell me any more, I don't want to hear!”
“We didn't fuck each other.”
“Sevi, sucking your fingers is even more intimate than a quick fuck. I can't cope with him being around. He needs to go.”
“I promise he will after we have finished our quest for Portia. Please Saba... It won't happen again. He knows we're together. It was a momentary slip, that's all. Don't tell me that your mind has never wandered to another in all the time we have been together. I've seen you flirting with Carmel in the bar in New York. We're vampires, aren't we? Our long lives and need for frequent sex make monogamy difficult. Opportunities and situations will arise and we need to accept that. We will both have small affairs at times and I'm sure I'll find it just as difficult as you, but you know I love you, and I need you more than anything or anyone else. I worship you Saba. You're my soul mate. Miche is just a little fun, that's all.”
“Sevi, you've hurt me baby.”
“I'm sorry my love. Come here and let me make you feel better.”
She held him tightly and kissed him with such passion, nipping at his tongue with her fangs. His heart lifted and he took her, right there in the stairwell. She wrapped her legs around him and they slumped to the floor in a wild and growling, snarling heap of love.
Chapter 7
The four set off for Naples the next day hurtling along the E45. Sevi drove their car and they stopped once for Michello's feed. She was quite content. She and Saba had cleared the air and Miche was behaving himself in Saba's presence. Well, most of the time. She did catch sight of him licking his fangs at her in the rear view mirror now and then. She smiled to herself in satisfaction. What a perfectly hot protégé he was. She hadn't been entirely truthful with Saba. But what he didn't know wouldn't hurt him. The mild attraction she felt for Miche wasn't that mild at all. In fact she was raging with such lust that she could hardly contain herself. She could hardly wait to get him alone and she knew he was as desperate as she. Her blood was simmering and about to boil.
She turned off the A1 road and they entered Naples, finally arriving at their hotel for the night. It was usually quite easy to find other vampires and hopefully that would lead them to Portia's door.
They offloaded their bags at the Excelsior and rested a while before beginning their search. It was late evening when they finally left the suite.
They made their way to The Mouse Club, recommended as being very popular with young people by the doorman at the hotel. It was situated in the Centro Storico area.
Once inside, they looked around the crowd of young clubbers for others of their kind. Severina's eye caught that of another female vampire and a minute glint of acknowledgement passed between them. She made her way over to the small blonde who was dressed in a vivid lime green and white striped mini dress and high heels.
“Hello my friend, how are you finding the refreshments?”
“Very pleasant and completely sloshed... look at them! I do so love a drunken meal.”
“I
know. It has added bite, does it not?” she said with a grin.
“Are you Severina Basteri, and is that not Sabato Accosi?” She motioned at Saba who was buying them some drinks at the bar. Her eyes were wide as she suddenly realised who they were.
“We are. Do you follow the world of fashion?”
“Not so much. But I have seen you on my television. I'm Tabine, call me Tabi.”
“Call me Sevi.”
“What are you doing here, on vacation or work?”
“We are trying to find a friend of ours, a very, very old friend. Her name is Portia. A Ristorian true blood.”
“I know her. She browses the bars and clubs here regularly. She lives in the Spanish District. I can show you where. I have been there once, a long time ago.”
“This is most welcome news.” Sevi clasped her hands together with joy. “What a fortuitous meeting this has been Tabi, let me buy you a drink and introduce you to the others.”
She shepherded her through to the three men.
“Saba, Miche, and Fro, meet Tabi. She knows Portia.”
They shared an enthusiastic air kissing session which made Tabi blush bright red. She obviously didn't know who to look at first, and her eyes were darting madly between the three good looking vampire men. Severina was aware their group was drawing attention from the bar crowd. They were world famous and this happened wherever they went these days.
“Let me get our new friend a drink and then we shall go. Tabi will lead us to Portia's residence. Hopefully she will be at home,” she said going off to the bar.
They took a walk, ambling through the rubbish strewn narrow streets, and passing a few very shady looking humans by. Probably drug dealers, Sevi thought in disgust. She had thought London and Rome to be filthy and corrupt, but what she'd seen of Naples defied description. A young man whizzed up from behind them, bumping along the cobbled streets far too fast on his moped, and before she knew what was happening, her bag was snatched from her shoulder.
“Saba darling, get my bag back will you? That annoying human on the scooter has just taken it,” she said calmly. Saba set off on a speed run. He pounced and pulled the young man off his scooter by the back of his jacket and he gave a shocked yelp of surprise. The others caught up with Saba and the five of them stood around the stunned would-be thief, very displeased.
“Don't hurt me, please don't!” The human begged. They all raised their bites and hissed and snarled at him. “Holy Mary, save me!” He cried and scampered off in wild terror as they all laughed at his shocked expression.
“Pickpockets and bag snatchers are rife in Naples,” Tabi said, handing Sevi her bag back with a sigh. “I carry my money under my clothes these days.”
“In Rome it's the same too, in certain areas,” Sevi admitted. She felt a sharp pang of homesickness for New York. It was much more civilised there, and so clean.
“Come, we are almost there.” Tabi continued ahead of them and soon brought them to a brightly painted red door. “Here you are. The home of Portia Ristoria. I'll leave you here if I may, I have yet to feed.”
“Thank you Tabi for your assistance. Here, take this for yourself.” Sevi rummaged in her purse and produced two fifty euro notes for her.
“Oh no, it's not necessary.” Tabi pushed the money aside, embarrassed.
“Please, take it. Buy yourself some wine and a new pair of boots,” Sevi said with a wink at her.
“Oh very well, I could do with some new things. Thanks then. See you all again sometime, maybe?” And she was off in a blur of lime green and white.
Sevi stood looking at the door for a moment. Suddenly she was not quite ready to face Raffaele's sister and go over the details of his death again.
“Are you going to knock or are we simply admiring her door?” Saba asked her.
“I was gathering my thoughts for a second.” She raised her hand and rapped loudly on the rusty old door knocker. Sevi heard light footsteps on the stairs within, a light was switched on, and the door was flung open.
Sevi was rooted to the spot with what she saw. It was like looking at a ghost. There in front of her stood Raffaele in female form. Her long flowing straight black hair reached her waist and gleamed like silk. His fine features were reflected in her face. She was made up beautifully, be it in an overtly sexy way. Her lips were cherry red and her eyes smoky and sultry. A Cartier diamond watch graced her slender wrist. She wore a low cut D & G black t-shirt and tight black satin pants, was barefoot, and carried a small white cat in her arms.
“Who is knocking so very loudly?” Portia asked in a deep throated purr, looking out in surprise and catching sight of her former lover in the middle of the three men. “Oh, it is you Fro. I am sorry but our brief flirtation is over my love. I thought I made that quite plain,” she announced, looking at him coldly. Her eyes darted around the others, ignoring Severina standing right in front of her, and locked onto Saba's face deliberately.
“My word, it is Sabato Accosi! I am honoured, being such an admirer of yours. Do come in and grace my humble dwelling with your handsome presence.”
“Don't mind if I do,” Saba said with a big smile, giving Sevi a sly look as he passed by her and into the smart black and white marble tiled hallway. Portia took his hand and led him further inside, and the others followed behind him, into the plush deep red living room. Fro stood sour faced and uncomfortably in the doorway.
“So tell me, what can I do for you?” Portia asked, bidding them to sit. Her beautiful cat jumped on her lap and sat purring and hissing softly while she petted it rhythmically.
“Fro told us you sought news of Raffaele,” Sevi said, looking at her curiously. She wasn't warming to her so far, she had to be honest, probably because she was ogling Saba so much.
“I do, but why are you here?”
“You came to look for us in Milan,” Sevi said, reminding her.
“I did? Oh yes, but I had no idea I was looking for the famous Sabato and Severina. I imagined Sevi and Saba were two completely different people, or vampires, in this case.”
“Well, what a surprise for you. We're one and the same. Saba was with Raffaele at the end,” Sevi said quietly.
“Oh my poor dearest love, Raffaele. I am so, so heartbroken. I cannot believe my sweet man has been taken away from me so cruelly. I am bereft.” She sniffed and dabbed at her dry eyes with a finger dramatically.
“Your sweet man?” Sevi ventured to ask. It was a strange way to talk about her very un-sweet brother.
“Yes, such a doting and loving creature. I shall never get over his loss. We were so very, very close.”
Doting and loving! Was this the same Raffaele?
“But he only visited you every few years!” She exclaimed pointedly.
“I know, much to our joint regret, he was busy with something of great importance in London. It was top secret. I wasn't allowed to know anything about it, for my safety. He said he'd summon me when it was all over, whatever that meant. He managed to sneak away to see me every so often. I did so enjoy his brief wonderful visits when he could manage them.”
“I'm confused. You are talking about him as if he were your love. Wasn't he your brother?”
“Yes he was... How do you know?”
“Your looks, the fact he told me he had a sister in Naples, although he never mentioned your name.”
“What did you want to know about Raffe?” Saba asked her.
“After I got over the shock, which dear Fro helped me with so very kindly, offering me his broad shoulder to cry on,” she paused and gave Fro a small wistful smile, “I wanted information about his death, to visit his grave, and pay my loving respects... I need to have closure. You can understand that, can't you? All I know is that he died and simply vanished into thin air.”
“He met a violent end. As did my own twin brother,” Sevi said, cuddling up to Saba and nuzzling his shoulder possessively. She didn't like the predatory look in this vampire's eyes. She didn't trust her an inch. “Prepare
yourself for a shock."
"Most vampire deaths are violent and shocking. We don't die in our beds from influenza, do we? Tell me, I am impatient to know.” Portia's eyes blazed with fiery emotion.
“He was killed in a sword fight. He battled bravely, but he lost a limb or two and bled to death. We believe his body was fed to the swine. I'm sorry, but there is no grave,” Severina said trying to tone the horror down a little.
“Oh please no! I can't bear it.” Portia put her arm across her brow theatrically. “You, young man...” she gestured at Michello. “Please carry me to my bed, I feel weak and distraught.” Miche picked her up and carried her upstairs, followed by her fluffy white cat, and returned a moment later.
“She said to go now. She'll visit us at our suite at the Excelsior tomorrow at twelve noon.”
It was after eleven thirty and they sat waiting for Portia in the hotel. Saba had gone out to feed briefly. Fro was sulking in his room next door. He'd taken it very badly. Portia had openly admitted in her house that she had used him for comfort. His pride had taken a huge knock and he was being uncommunicative and moody with everyone. Severina knocked on his door.
“Go away, whoever it is,” he said loudly.
“Please, let me in dear friend. I'm concerned,” she pleaded.
“It's all right. I'm not drinking again, if that's what's bothering you. I just fed. I'll come to see you later, when she's been and gone,” he explained testily.
“Promise?”
“Yes I promise. Now go and leave me be.”
Severina wandered back inside her suite. Michello was sitting in an armchair reading her Tolstoy book. He looked up and smiled at her. She smiled back and raised an eyebrow suggestively. She sauntered over and sat on the arm of his chair, putting her hand on his broad shoulder and squeezing it softly and affectionately. She shouldn't be doing this but she was like a moth to a flame.
“How's things going with Anna?” she asked, running a finger around his ear.
“I'm enjoying it so far. It's an epic read.”
“It is. War and Peace is another. Have you read that?”